No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 33- Letter

"I'm happy to finally share this news with everyone."

Happy.

The word echoed in my head like a cruel joke.

My heart pounded as I waited-waited for any sign, any hesitation in her eyes. Something that told me this wasn't real.

But there was nothing.

She smiled-an empty, practiced smile-as Adrian held her hand for the cameras.

I couldn't breathe.

The interview continued, with more talk about their "perfect match," their families' excitement, their upcoming wedding.

And all I could do was watch.

Watch the woman I loved stand beside another man.

As if I never existed.

My hands trembled as I reached for my phone.

I didn't think-I just dialed.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

"The number you have dialed is either unattended or out of coverage-"

I ended the call and redialed.

Ring.

Ring.

"The number you have dialed is either unattended or-"

"Putangina naman, Aiah, sagutin mo!" I screamed, my voice breaking as I hit the call button again.

No answer.

I tried again.

And again.

And again.

Nothing.

My breathing grew ragged, my chest tightening with each second of silence. My fingers moved on their own as I opened our messages.

I started typing.

Mikha: Aiah, please... kausapin mo ako.
Mikha: Sabihin mong hindi totoo yung nakita ko.
Mikha: Sabihin mong hindi mo ako iniwan para sa kanya.
Mikha: Aiah, please... kahit isang sagot lang... kahit ano...
Mikha: Mahal kita, Aiah. Kahit anong mangyari, mahal kita.

I hit send.

No reply.

Seconds passed.

Minutes.

An hour.

Nothing.

I kept sending messages, pouring everything I had into every word.

Mikha: Bakit hindi mo ako kayang ipaglaban?
Mikha: Bakit siya?
Mikha: Mahal mo ba siya?
Mikha: Sabihin mo sa'kin kung paano kita makakalimutan, Aiah.
Mikha: Sabihin mo kung paano ako titigil sa pagmamahal sa'yo, kasi hindi ko alam kung paano.

My chest felt like it was caving in.

Still, no reply.

I threw my phone against the couch, gripping my hair as silent sobs racked my body.

Wala na ba talaga?

Ako na lang ba ang may hawak sa pagmamahal na 'to?

I curled into myself, drowning in a silence that Aiah refused to break.

With shaking fingers, I picked up my phone again.

She wasn't answering. She wasn't replying. But I had to try one more time.

I took a deep breath, wiped my tears, and started typing.

Mikha: Aiah... please, umuwi ka lang sa akin.
Mikha: Hindi ako galit sa'yo, love.
Mikha: Hindi ko hihingin ang paliwanag mo. Hindi ko ipipilit na sagutin mo lahat ng tanong ko.
Mikha: Basta umuwi ka lang.
Mikha: Gusto ko lang na andito ka. Gusto ko lang matulog na nandyan ka, nakaakap sa'kin, katulad ng dati.
Mikha: Kahit isang gabi lang, Aiah. Kahit ngayon lang.

I hit send, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.

I waited.

And waited.

A second. A minute. An hour.

Still nothing.

My grip tightened on the phone as a fresh wave of pain crashed into me.

She wasn't coming back.

I let out a broken laugh, wiping the tears that wouldn't stop falling.

"Akala ko ba kahit anong mangyari, hindi mo ako iiwan, Aiah?" I whispered to the empty room. "Akala ko ba mahal mo ako?"

I curled up on the couch, clutching my phone to my chest.

And as the night stretched on, I realized something-

Lahat ng text ko, lahat ng tawag ko...

Wala na palang halaga sa kanya.